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11

COMPATIBILITY

Portable Flashes and Studio Strobe Lights

Cactus V5 works with all portable flashes and strobes with triggering 

voltage between 0V - 300V, and equipped with any of the following 

connection interfaces:
 

Cactus V5 is 

not compatible

 with reverse polarity flashes and some 

dedicated flash models, as indicated in 

Notes on Dedicated Flash

 

below.

Notes on Dedicated Flash:

Cactus V5 does not transmit TTL information.
Connecting Cactus V5 transceiver to a flash with a Sony Alpha 

style hot shoe requires an optional hot shoe adapter (i.e. the 

“FS-1200 hot shoe adapter”).
Some dedicated flashes (e.g. Nissin Di-622 and Di-466, Sunpak 

PZ42x and PZ30, Sigma EF-530/500 DG ST for Canon, etc.) are 

triggered via system-specific pins instead of the central hot shoe 

contact. Cactus V5 does not work with these flash models. To 

check whether your dedicated flash unit is compatible with 

Cactus V5, try attaching the flash unit to a camera of another 

brand (e.g. attaching a Nikon TTL flash to a Canon DSLR camera). 

If the flash can be triggered, it will work with Cactus V5.

!

1.
2.

3.

Cameras 

                                                       

 

Cactus V5 works with practically all SLR and DSLR cameras. This 

includes all cameras that come with (1) a standard ISO hot shoe, 

and/or (2) a female sync port connection.

Other Flash Triggers

                                           

 

Each Cactus V5 unit is designed to work exclusively with other Cactus 
V5 units. It is 

NOT

 compatible with any other flash trigger, including 

Cactus V2, V2s and V4.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Before reading this section, ensure that Cactus V5 transceivers have 

been set up correctly (follow the instructions in the 

Operation

 section 

of this manual).
If the problem persists after conducting the troubleshooting steps, 

contact your seller directly for further assistance.

1. Flash Misfire (Unexpected Flash Firing)

Poor hot shoe connection

Background radio 
interference

Adjust tightness of hot shoe 
contact
Remove hot shoe metal plate
Clean hot shoe contact of V5 
and flash with clean cloth

LED blinks?

TX: No
RX: No

TX: No
RX: Yes (GREEN)

Possible Cause

Solution

Set both transceivers to 
another channel
Change setup location as 
interference may come from 
other equipment in the 
surrounding area

Place the TX and RX 
transceivers at least one meter 
apart and retry

1.

TX and RX transceivers are 
placed too close to each 
other

2.

2. Slow Synchronization (Delayed Flash)

Insufficient battery power

Adjust the camera’s shutter 
speed to the maximum 
supported x-sync speed

LED blinks?

TX: Yes (GREEN)
RX: Yes (GREEN)

TX or RX: Yes     
(RED every 3 secs)

Possible Cause

Solution

Ensure flash trigger transceivers 
are set to a different channel 
from that used by wireless 
shutter release transceivers
Replace batteries and retry

Radio interference with 
wireless shutter release

2.

Shutter speed is faster 
than the camera’s x-sync 
limitation

1.

Hot shoe
PC sync female

6.35mm port

3.5mm port

Summary of Contents for V5

Page 1: ...WIRELESS FLASH TRANSCEIVER V5 DUO USER MANUAL ...

Page 2: ...ating temperature of 20 C to 50 C 4 F to 122 F Transceiver design Cactus V5 can be used both as a transmitter or receiver Operating mode is changed through a convenient Mode Switch Multi functional Cactus V5 can operate as either a wireless flash transceiver or a wireless camera shutter release requires optional shutter release cable Two hot shoe ports Apart from triggering wireless flashes an on ...

Page 3: ...onment i e under strong direct sunlight near cooking stoves oven Cactus V5 should never be submerged in liquid or exposed to heavy rain unless it is properly protected Do not operate the device in the presence of flammable gases or fumes Do not fire the flash directly into the eyes of someone at close range 1 2 3 4 5 6 3 MAJOR SPECIFICATIONS Working radio frequency 2 4 GHz Number of channels 16 Su...

Page 4: ... Transceiver x2 3 5mm Plug Cable CA 350 x1 6 35mm Plug Adapter PA 635 x1 When Light Dances 2 Album x1 User Manual x1 AAA Alkaline Battery x4 PC Sync Cable CA 100 x1 Flash Stand FS 5 x2 also available as optional accessories ...

Page 5: ...5 NOMENCLATURE Test Button Hot Shoe Female Status LED Battery Compartment Hot Shoe Male Channel Dial Tripod Mount X Sync Port Mode Switch ...

Page 6: ...PZ42x and PZ30 Sigma EF 530 500 DG ST for Canon etc are triggered via system specific pins instead of the central hot shoe contact Cactus V5 does not work with these flash models To check whether your dedicated flash unit is compatible with Cactus V5 try attaching the flash unit to a camera of another brand e g attaching a Nikon TTL flash to a Canon DSLR camera If the flash can be triggered it wil...

Page 7: ...X to the light source Portable Flash Studio Strobe Set both TX and RX to the same channel using the Channel Dial On TX press the Test button The status LED of both TX and RX should blink in GREEN simultaneously Attach TX to the camera s hot shoe If your camera does not have a hot shoe connect TX to the camera using a PC sync cable CA 100 Press the camera s shutter release button 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 Conn...

Page 8: ...Full press the Test button on TX for shutter release The status LED on both transceivers will turn GREEN to indicate shutter release 1 2 3 4 5 6 requires optional shutter release cable Notes This function requires the use of a separately purchased shutter release cable for connection between the transceiver and camera This cable is NOT included A minimum of two Cactus V5 transceivers are required ...

Page 9: ...r 4 sets of flashes and strobes separately or all at once On the side of each V5 transceiver is a rotary Channel Dial with the numbers 1 to 16 printed 1 to 5 in blue color and 6 to 16 in white The Channel Dial is used to change the transceiver channel either in TX or RX mode from one to another To make use of the multi channel triggering feature ensure that the TX transceiver is set to Channel 1 w...

Page 10: ...t working frequency after each firing To take full advantage of this new feature it is advised that a test firing be done before taking the actual shot This will ensure that the V5 transceiver in either Transmitter or Receiver mode will be calibrated to a functioning frequency and that important and stunning photographs will not be missed FST is especially useful when V5 is exposed to the followin...

Page 11: ...se Solution Set both transceivers to another channel Change setup location as interference may come from other equipment in the surrounding area Place the TX and RX transceivers at least one meter apart and retry 1 TX and RX transceivers are placed too close to each other 2 2 Slow Synchronization Delayed Flash Insufficient battery power Adjust the camera s shutter speed to the maximum supported x ...

Page 12: ... come from other equipment in the surrounding area Make sure TX and RX transceivers are placed within 100m 328 ft of each other Note The effective range of 100m 328 ft may not be achieved in the presence of radio interference 1 1 2 Poor hot shoe contact Adjust tightness of hot shoe contact Remove hot shoe metal plate Clean hot shoe contact of V5 and flash with clean cloth 1 Poor cable connection C...

Page 13: ...turning the equipment off and on the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures HARVEST ONE LIMITED AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS WIRELESS FLASH TRANSCEIVER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RADIO OR TV INTERFERENCE CAUSED BY UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS TO THIS EQUIPMENT SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT FCC ID VAAW...

Page 14: ...at the product CACTUS WIRELESS FLASH TRANSCEIVER V5 is in conformity with the essential requirements and other relevant requirements of the R TTE Directive 1999 5 EC The products are compliant with the following standards and or other normative documents SAFETY EN 50371 2002 EMC EN301 489 1 V1 8 1 EN301 489 3 V1 4 1 Radio EN300 440 1 V1 5 1 EN300 440 2 V1 3 1 Supplementary information Technical fi...

Page 15: ... shall have no responsibility This limited warranty covers all defects encountered in normal use of the Wireless Flash Transceiver and does not apply in any of the following cases Loss of or damage to the Wireless Flash Transceiver due to abuse mishandling improper packaging by you alteration accident electrical current fluctuations Failure to follow operating maintenance or environmental instruct...

Page 16: ...BASED AND EVEN IF HARVEST ONE LIMITED HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES IN NO EVENT SHALL RECOVERY OF ANY KIND AGAINST HARVEST ONE LIMITED GREATER IN AMOUNT THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE CACTUS WIRELESS FLASH TRANSCEIVER SOLD BY HARVEST ONE LIMITED OR ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND CAUSING THE ALLEGED DAMAGE WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING YOU ASSUME ALL RISK AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS D...

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